Downloaded from rnajournal.cshlp.org on September 23, 2021 - Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases Miguel Angel Rubio Gomez1,2 and Michael Ibba1,2, † 1Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210 2Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 318 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210 †Corresponding author and person to whom requests should be addressed: Michael Ibba, PhD Department of Microbiology The Ohio State University 318 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210 Phone: 614-292-2120 E-mail:
[email protected] Running title: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases Keywords: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, tRNA, protein translation Rubio, MA 1 Downloaded from rnajournal.cshlp.org on September 23, 2021 - Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are an essential and universally distributed family of enzymes that play a critical role in protein synthesis, pairing tRNAs with their cognate amino acids for decoding mRNAs according to the genetic code. Synthetases help to ensure accurate translation of the genetic code by using both highly accurate cognate substrate recognition and stringent proofreading of non-cognate products. While alterations in the quality control mechanisms of synthetases are generally detrimental to cellular viability, recent studies suggest that in some instances such changes facilitate adaption to stress conditions. Beyond their central role in translation, synthetases are also emerging as key players in an increasing number of other cellular processes, with far reaching consequences in health and disease. The biochemical versatility of the synthetases has also proven pivotal in efforts to expand the genetic code, further emphasizing the wide-ranging roles of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family in synthetic and natural biology.